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“Usually.” Michael ran his hand down the boat’s ledge, then swept old paint chips off his hands and onto the deck. “But this one needs a ton of work, and not just cosmetically. And even once it’s fixed up, it couldn’t go too far. Maybe around this area, but nothing further than that.”
She nodded, studying the boat again. Imagining it fixed up, back to whatever its former glory was on the outside, gave her an idea. What if she started a dinner cruise? She and James had been on one in France together, back before Pearl was born. The quality of the food had given them the idea to start their restaurant, albeit on land.
Starting a dinner cruise wasn’t something she would have thought of in the past, but moving out to Blueberry Bay had made her more open-minded. Out of all the ideas she’d run through since she’d gotten here, this one felt like it was going to stick in her head for a long time. The town didn’t have anything like it and having what was essentially a floating restaurant took away the issue of finding a good spot for it on land.
Plus, she wouldn’t have to compete with other restaurants since she’d provide something different.
She realized she was staring off into space and Michael was watching her expectantly. Her cheeks flushed, though she wasn’t sure why. She hadn’t been lost in thought that long, had she? Or was it because of the way Michael was looking at her, his eyes smiling and pleasant?
“Sorry, I just got lost in thought for a second,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear when the breeze blew it out of place. “I’ve been doing a lot of that since the move.”
“Moves are a big change, especially with a little one,” he said, completely understanding. “I hope you find whatever you’re looking for here.”
“Thanks,” she replied, even though she had no idea why he cared. They’d chatted several times and were cordial, but he was extraordinarily genuine in his response. He wasn’t just saying it because it was the polite thing in that context.
Maybe he was just like that. A nice, genuine person. There were a lot of them around here.
“I’ve got to get going,” she said, checking the time. “I need to get Pearl at Little Clams.”
“Sure thing. See you around, Caitlin.”
“See you.”
Caitlin left, feeling slightly self-conscious. She resisted the urge to look back at Michael or the boat, as much as she wanted to.
CHAPTER SIX
Dane read over the article he’d just written for the fiftieth time in a row. He prided himself on his attention to detail, but this article was one of the most important ones he’d ever written—a surprise for Alissa. He didn’t want to make a single mistake.
He ran his hands through his hair, then down his face. All of the editing tips and tricks he used regularly escaped him, which only made him more stressed. When he got worked up about a piece of writing, he liked to have someone else look it over. Usually that person was Alissa but that would have ruined the surprise.
Sighing heavily, he peered out of his office. It was quiet aside from Josie typing, but he wanted to be completely sure that Alissa was gone. He slipped out, checking the kitchenette, then the other side of the office where their small conference room was. He felt Josie’s eyes on him as he snuck around.
“Can I ask why you’re sneaking around your own company?” Josie asked with a chuckle.
“I just need to make sure Alissa isn’t around.” He looked behind him as if Alissa had somehow snuck in when he wasn’t looking.
“She’s at lunch,” Josie said. “Why?”
“Good. Just a second.”
Dane went back into his office and hit send on an email to Josie before coming back out.
“I just sent you the article I’ve been working on. Alissa can’t see it before it goes into the paper,” Dane said. “But I need your opinion on it.”
“Sure?” Josie clicked around to find the email. When she found it, she gasped. “This is how you’re asking?”
“Yeah.” He smoothed his hair instead of messing it up anymore. “Does it read well? Did I miss any grammatical errors?”
Josie beamed as she read through the short article.
“It looks perfect.” Josie’s face lit up even more. “I think she’ll love it. It’s such a perfect idea.”
“Good.” His stomach twisted in knots, right at the border between anxiety and excitement. “You have to swear to not say a word to her.”
“Of course I won’t.” Josie playfully rolled her eyes.
He ran his hand through his hair. Josie had kept Dane’s secret plan to learn to hula dance for Alissa at the Blueberry Bay Luau, not giving Alissa a single hint that she knew. And she’d had plenty of possible opportunities to let it slip, given how much luau fever had taken over Alissa and the entire town.
